Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 557

“By rights, I should call the guards and have you cast into prison, tortured.” Zen carefully placed a bookmark into his book and set it aside.

“Do it,” Elenore said inside his head.

“I’m not telling him to ‘do it,’” Stain replied to her as he stared steadfastly. When he opened his mouth to respond to Zen, he said instead, “You’d at least like to hear us out, right?”

Zen tapped his book with one finger. “I hear a lot either way.”

Stain’s gut swirled with nervousness, but Elenore said, “You imbecile. I hope your parents are siblings, otherwise there’s no justification for such continual stupidity. Say. Do. It.”

“Do it,” Stain said.

Governor Zen smiled, and stroked his wispy goatee. “You’re loyal enough to them to suffer that?”

“You should look out across the pond. Then, just say that this way is faster for the both of you.”

Stain very nearly said ‘look out across the pond.’ He tied his tongue in time, then looked out into the pond sagely and repeated, “This way’s faster for the both of us.”

“And doesn’t necessarily preclude the other.” Zen stopped tapping the book. “But I can’t be disloyal to the imperial court. You understand, they have ways of… keeping people in line. Sending people like yourself to people. Hounds, to sniff.”

Stain stared in silence, waiting for Elenore’s direction. After a long moment of indecision, she finally commanded, “Take away your blessing in front of him.”

“He’ll know my ability. If he knows, and he’s not with us, the whole imperial court could know. If the imp—”

“It’s a calculated risk,” Elenore interrupted. “And done with the king’s approval. Even if the imperial court learns of you, they can’t truly do anything but be more cautious.”

And what about my safety? Stain stared without saying anything. He stalled for time, asking, “You think I’m a hound?”

“I didn’t say that,” Zen said.

Meanwhile, Stain demanded of Elenore, “He thinks I’m a hound. I deserve a treat. Give me a seat on parliament, and a title.”

“Parliament?” Elenore’s voice was sharp. “You don’t have time to—”

“I can have someone fill it, just give me a seat.”

only silence. Zen observed Stain and

should provide,”

Baron of

hung in both Stain’s mind and

Whitefields,” Elenore offered grandly. “The old duke’s

smile, then withdrew his blessing. Governor Zen beheld Stain’s non-Chu features, even leaning back slightly

#####

hair as Argrave laughed. They stood, touching Vasquer, as her brother scouted out Stain’s conversation with Governor Zen. Argrave kept repeating, “You’ve gotta admit, he’s earned it,” and “Who else could do what he’s done?” Even worse yet, she could feel his amusement through their mental bridge with Vasquer. Their

You’re… what are you, exactly? Governor Zen asked, more curious

to know, and ask questions that need to be asked,” Elenore said, and Stain

Zen leaned back on his hands. “I was expecting some contact. But I wasn’t expecting it so quickly, nor from someone like you. I thought they’d

alive,” Elenore and

he ask about his children? My

“Not even once.”

but he did give a knowing expression. “So, you know him. Or knew him, if you’re lying and he’s dead. I’d ask for further proof, but any you give me

depends. Are you the hound of

on Amazon, know that it has been

Zen laughed through his nose. “I imagine they’d rather like if I

gave no indication to Argrave or Elenore that this

ask again,” Zen continued. “What’s your

else?” Stain recited. “Restoring the

I get the picture.” Governor Zen looked down at his book, then stroked the binding as he deliberated over what to say. Elenore couldn’t say how he’d gotten the picture, but then maybe

“You did.”

grandchildren. From birth, they’ve had

of the emperor and empress, aren’t they?” Elenore played

lives to be as such, yet the Zen family… the Zen family is tightly knit. My daughters, my sons, even my wives—they understand why I do the things that I do, and I suspect we all share the same…” he tapped his lip for a moment as he considered the

the need to remind, “Conveniently, the emperor is your

his head.

Elenore pressed

the same time, the whole family is Zen. They’re an extension of me. I’ll protect them every bit as well as myself, because they are my life. My first wife… a childhood sweetheart. My children… they’ve only ever known me. But the emperor? A fresh presence. He’s not me. He’s not

you have

interest in the emperor is ensuring my grandchildren have a father—nothing more, nothing less.” He pointed. “I sent that ballista with my message for a reason. Not to help the emperor, but to help you. To help… well, perhaps I should just say it. To help

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